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Make no mistake about it, the English title race is already over. Chelsea’s Premier League opponents may as well begin forming the obligatory guard of honour now – because there’s no way Manchester City are catching them.

That may seem like a rather audacious declaration with 13 Premier League fixtures still to go; we’ve seen mightier margins than the Blues’ current seven points evaporate before – such as Manchester United’s in the 2011/12 campaign – and Chelsea are hardly enjoying top form at the minute, spared from draws against Aston Villa and Everton by a Branislav Ivanovic wonder-strike and a fortuitous Willian goal, deflecting off Steven Naismith in the 89th minute to trickle into Tim Howard’s net, respectively.

But when your right-back is scoring screamers that wouldn’t look out of place on a Cristiano Ronaldo highlight reel to gain three points from an otherwise ordinary performance, you know that element of luck essential in any Premier League title bid is firmly on your side.

Likewise, I’m a strong advocate of the numbers behind the beautiful game – the Moneyball-inspired formulas, the endless supply of OPTA statistics – and when extrapolated until the end of May, the numbers suggest the title will return to Stamford Bridge this term, barring a minor miracle.

For example, Chelsea are currently seven points ahead of the Citizens and boasting 59 points from 25 games, drop, on average, just 0.64 points per match. Should that pattern continue in identical fashion, they’ll miss out on just eight points before the season closes – so the only way Manchester City can leapfrog them in the table is by winning all of their remaining 13 fixtures, giving them 91 points compared to the Blues’ projected 90.

Perhaps not an impossible task, considering the immense quality of the Etihad squad – soon to be further strengthened by Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony upon their return from the African Cup of Nations. But those 13 fixtures include a visit to Anfield in a fortnight to face Liverpool, the Premier League’s most in-form at the minute team by quite some distance, a local derby against Manchester United at Old Trafford, an away trip to Champions League contenders Tottenham and an Etihad clash with Southampton on the final day of the season.

In between, relegation battlers Burnley and Crystal Palace pose potential banana-skins on their respective home patches, and all of that is without City’s Champions League involvement entering the equation – which will almost certainly take priority at Eastlands if they beat Barcelona in the opening knock-out round.

Furthermore, there are some historical factors to consider – particularly surrounding Jose Mourinho. This is the Portuguese’s slimmest margin after 24 games during a title-winning campaign, but he’s never lost a title race when topping the table at Christmas throughout his spells with the Blues, Porto, Inter Milan and Real Madrid. Squandering such leads just isn’t a Jose Mourinho thing.

Similarly, every second season Mourinho has spent at a club has always proved his most successful, with a virtual guarantee of league titles. He won the domestic league and the Champions League during his second campaign with both Inter Milan and Porto, and the Portuguese’s second season at the Bernabeu was the only time in which he lifted the La Liga trophy – recording his only double over rivals Barcelona in the process. The exception? His second term at Chelsea, where the west Londoners won a consecutive Premier League tile but failed to retain the FA Cup from the year before.

The idea of history repeating itself so accurately, or Chelsea’s points ratio to staying exactly the same until the end of May, might come across a little simplistic; football is one of the most unpredictable sports in the world, and if it were just a matter of formulas, every Premier League dugout would be headed by scientists and data specialists already.

But with history, the numbers, fortune and a seven-point surplus firmly on Chelsea’s side – not to mention the leading goalscorer, Diego Costa and the leading creator, Cesc Fabregas, in the division- losing the Premier League title now would constitute the biggest disappointment of Jose Mourinho’s managerial career thus far  – which, quite frankly, just doesn’t sound very Jose Mourinho.

The pressure will unequivocally increase around Stamford Bridge in the coming weeks and Chelsea too, could soon get caught up in the European title race. But much like their manager, the Blues thrive most when their backs are to the wall – handling the pressure and grinding out results at the business end of campaigns is part of their DNA.

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Although a City comeback isn’t outside the realms of possibility just yet, in my opinion, a Chelsea capitulation at this stage of the season certainly is.

After a hectic Christmas period, Cardiff City sat pretty at the top of the Championship going into their third round FA Cup meeting with Macclesfield Town.

Bluebird supporters were relishing the idea of a cup run after a much weakened side had lost in the first round of the Capitol One Cup.

However two days before the tie, manager Malky Mackay gave media interviews in which he said he was unwilling to flog his team to death and would be sending out a completely changed team. Quite how changed still came as a shock, as the development squad with the addition of the silver fox Kevin MacNaughton and former club captain Stephen McPhail took to the field.

Despite the much weakened team which the Bluebirds had turned out, Cardiff City kicked the game off with the large away following behind them or rather supporters had pre-booked their away trip with their team expecting to see a team that at included a few squad players in the place of key players, but nothing like the wholesale change that met them. Yes Macclesfield were eighty-one places below The Bluebirds, but FA Cup history dictates that it doesn’t mean they were going to show reverence and respect, simply rollover and die and that is exactly how the game panned out…

Malky Mackay’s side for long periods of the game looked like they didn’t know each other as pass after pass went astray. Hopes were raised for the Bluebirds when Filip Kiss was hacked down twenty-five yards from goal. Stephen McPhail stepped up to take the free kick, but his strike deflected off the wall straight into the hands of the Macclesfield ‘keeper.

City’s passing was sloppy, when yet another ball was delivered lacking the required pace Charlie Henry intercepted. He drove forward and fired a shot goalwards from just outside the penalty area, but Cardiff ‘keeper Joe Lewis was able to gather the ball with relative ease as the shot was struck straight down his throat.

Cardiff continued to push forward but they could not find the clinical touch in the final third. The Silkmen were not sitting back either and it was uncomfortable viewing for Cardiff City supporters, especially when It was the home side who almost broke the deadlock!

Macclesfield’s John Paul Kissock slotted the ball through the Cardiff defence looking for the onrushing Amari Morgan-Smith. Morgan-Smith looked to be one on one with the keeper, but a timely intervention from Adedeji Oshilaja saved the Bluebirds blushes for the time being at least.

Joe Ralls was lively for Cardiff City showing his class and underlining the mistake of leaving the entire first team at home!  Ralls seemed to be the sole instigator of any attack City produced, the game screamed out for the likes of Mason or Noone.

On forty-one minutes Ralls went on a driving run from half way, thirty yards from goal he found Declan John ahead of him. John rode out a strong challenge that maybe a more experienced player would have gone down for, instead he stayed on his feet carrying the ball into the box.  However his cross come shot was easily parried away by Macclesfield goalkeeper Cronin. With a minute left in the first half the home fans roared for a penalty. Oshilaja shoved Morgan-Smith off the ball the officials were unimpressed with the players and fans calls for a penalty and the whistle blew, for half time, the players and officials were promptly booed off the field.

The home side started the second half the brightest, Ben Nugent was forced to make an important block early and Town had a series of corners, but the City defence stood firm and weathered the storm. Suddenly on the hour mark, Cardiff City sprang into life, Velikonja made a darting run into the opposition half and played the ball to Declan John. John went on a run hugging the sideline, got to the by-line, squaring across to Nat Jarvis who slotted the ball home under Lance Cronin.

A flurry of substitutions ensued – Macclesfield Town: Jack Mackreth on for Charlie Henry , Cardiff City Substituted: Tommy O’Sullivan for Kadeem Harris And just a minute later Macclesfield brought on Peter Winn on for Carl Martin . The Silkmen pushed on looking for the equaliser. They forced a corner and started to unleash dangerous shots on goal at every open. Cardiff City were slowly starting to makes a few chances were too. A powerful shot from Filip Kiss cannoned off a defender and landed at the feet of Declan John, but his effort tamely ended up in the arms of the Macclesfield keeper.

They then had another penalty shout turned down when Craig Braham-Barrett dribbled in-between John and Oshilaja and was seemingly felled the referee held his arms out and signaled play on.The home side continued to throw men forward with most of their chances coming down the right flank. After one such move Jack Mackreth played a tantalising cross to the back post, the ball landed at the feet of Matthew Barnes Homer who gleefully placed the ball into the back of Joe Lewis’ goal.

Macclesfield were in no mood to settle for a replay and continued to push forward. With six minutes left they were awarded a free kick in the Cardiff half. Pablo Mills played a lofted ball into the area, and the referee blew up and pointed to the spot giving the penalty for a handball offence against Nat Jarvis. Barnes-Homer picked up the ball looking for his second of the evening. He confidently stepped up and unleashed a rocket of a shot into the bottom left corner.

Cardiff had nothing left to offer in the remaining minutes – their heads had gone down. The upset was complete. The big upset belonged embarrassingly to the championship leaders, who had either been over confident in fielding practically a youth team or had made the conscious decision to concentrate their season priorities solely on the Championship campaign.

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Such a decision if it were so is an insult to the clubs history, the supporters of both teams and that too of the FA Cup – the jewel in the football crown for many supporters the world over. Cardiff city supporters were yet again this season, left divided – this time between the wisdom of ‘not really trying’ and being happy there can be now no distractions in the attempt to reach the promised land, and those who felt cheated.

Just two more experienced players in key positions would, in all probability, have sealed a victory and leaving out all the first team for fear of injury rang hollow, injuries are often picked up in training. More fringe and bench players could have been employed – where was the seemingly ever present Don Cowie? So ever present he had played Santa’s helper for The Bluebirds at their afternoon for disadvantaged children…..

All in all an embarrassing day for a club already widely deviled by many the world over for their abandonment of tradition and history this season….

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Overall, Sofiane Boufal has been an immense disappointment during his time in the Premier League. The incredible ease in which the Moroccan winger ghosts past defenders highlights his obvious natural ability, but it has only been demonstrated in fits and spurts during his time at Southampton and the former Lille star is nowhere near living up to the comparisons with Eden Hazard that accompanied him upon arriving at St. Mary’s in summer 2016.

Yet, glimmers of Boufal’s technical quality are never far from breaking to the surface and there were a fair few on Sunday as Saints encountered Wigan in a tricky FA Cup quarter-final. Although it took Southampton until after half time to truly get going in the match and although the Latics aren’t the most formidable opposition on paper, Boufal was one of his side’s more effective players before being subbed off in the 64th minute, ranking first for dribbles, second for chances created and third for attempts at goal throughout the Saints team.

Of course, it could be a typical case of a player on the outskirts of the starting XI improving his form to try and impress his new manager, with Mark Hughes appointed as Mauricio Pellegrino’s successor during the week. But there is a more optimistic perspective to take here, considering the positive impact the Welshman had on Marko Arnautovic and Xherdan Shaqiri’s careers at Stoke – transforming them from inconsistent players of undoubted talent into indispensible members of his team.

Boufal – who Transfermarkt value at £13.5million – falls into that category of frustratingly mercurial attacking player as well, and if Hughes can bring the best out of him during a difficult run-in that will decide Southampton’s top flight status, the 24-year-old could emerge as a key influence in the south coast outfit’s bid for survival.

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Deep breaths, Brendan. Deep breaths.

Liverpool’s woeful display in their Champions League group saw them slip shamefully in to the Europa League’s unforgiving grasp last week.

And just 24 hours after their public mauling at the hands of rivals Man United at Old Trafford, they’ve been handed a tough draw against Turkish side Besiktas.

The last time they met each other in Europe, Liverpool ran out 8-0 winners. But, give the current circumstances at Anfield, Liverpool’s poor ol’ fans literally don’t know what to make of it this year.

Some reckon it’s an easy. Others appear devastated.

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With the life of its own that the January transfer window seems to have developed over recent times, it sometimes feels all too easy to sweep its shortcomings under the carpet.

What was once a mere alteration of the rules by Fifa and Uefa at the turn of the century, now resembles something along the lines of a national institution.

It’s become an all-singing, all-dancing mass-media event, spawning masses of forums and websites in its dedication, as well as generating its own commercial shtick, to boot. Indeed, it now feels somewhat difficult to imagine how Sky Sports News once survived without its cheap, deadline day chutzpah.

Yet for all the speculation and excitement that January’s uncertainty spins amongst supporters, the start-of-year transfer window isn’t without it’s faults and the problems tend to cut a lot deeper than Sir Alex Ferguson’s simple musings about their being ‘little value’ to be had.

Ironically, one of the main benefits of the January window’s introduction was that it was supposed to force clubs into long-term planning. Where as before, a club could pull the managerial guillotine and buy their way out of trouble mid way through March (players could previously be traded up until March 31st), the new window system was supposed to put a stop to that.

That was the opinion heralded by the then-League Managers Association chairman John Barnwell back in 2006, anyway. Fast forward seven years, and opinions within the managerial community appear to have changed considerably. Barnwell’s successor, current incumbent Richard Bevan, has gone on record in recent times asking for the window to be done away with all together.

In 2011, Bevan said: “It doesn’t create stability, it doesn’t create a level playing field, and certainly in the Football League they are very keen the domestic window is removed.”

The school of thought within the LMA, one that they still abide by two years on, is that the January window increases instability; with a small window to chop and change as they please, club chairmen – especially those with vast resources at hand – can simply tear it up and start again mid-season.

Then you have the managers themselves who carry a persistent disdain for the January window. You can take your pick from who possesses the biggest dislike for the window, with everyone from Arsene Wenger to Sir Alex Ferguson going on record stating their wish to see the back of it. For the men in charge of our clubs, the window generates a period of mass uncertainty, putting power into the hands of both players and agents.

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Wenger in particular has consistently clamoured for change, slamming the damage the window can do to a club. Speaking last January, he said:

“You have players coming to you saying, ‘If I don’t play maybe I will leave in January,’”

“So, they are already less committed to the cause. It gives them an opening. We have gone from a period where you knew, if you didn’t play, you had to be committed.

Furthermore, while the forums of footballing debate so often tend to ignore the needs of clubs plying their trade outside of the top tier, there is a case that the January window also does more harm than good to lower league sides’ financial prospects. For many clubs in the Football League, the nurturing of their young players with a view to selling is a crucial part of financial survival.

Offering the bigger clubs a deadline by which they can bully lower-league teams into a sale, can drive prices lower and the incentive to develop younger talent consequently recedes.

Yet although both managers and their respective authorities harness very relevant points indeed, the realities of the current political boundaries make instigating potential change an extremely difficult task.

The odds of being able to scrap the January window in favour of having a sole, summer window in which to trade would be extremely difficult to implement.

While some have made a case that the current window offers a technical restraint of the free movement of workers – which would contravene EU Law – the European Commission has stated that there could be good sporting reasons to introduce some form of economic restriction in regards to the benefit of stability. Yet bare in mind the current transfer window is a hazy compromise between both the right of a player to move clubs post-Bosman and the need for contractual stability in football, it’s unlikely Fifa and Uefa will get away with just on window.

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And if the only alternative is a year-long open market, is that particularly going to have much of a positive impact? While Wenger is right in his concerns over conniving agents and fidgety players, but where as the January window offers them one, sensibly placed mid-season chance to plot an escape, dumping the window will give them all season.

Similarly with managerial stability, would returning to the old set-up really encourage long-term managerial planning? It’s hard to imagine how the sackings of Roberto Di Matteo, Sean O’Driscoll and Nigel Adkins would have been avoided without a January transfer window.

Furthermore, while there is a case that lower-league clubs may prosper from being able to move on youth products more quickly, it can also damage them, too. Without the January window, who’s to say Wilfried Zaha wouldn’t have been taken away from Crystal Palace’s promotion push back in October? Again, the money the likes of Zaha, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey have generated for their clubs in recent years has hardly seen them ‘bullied’ by the window’s constraints as some have suggested. Clubs are also now paid training compensation for loosing players under the age of 24, which they weren’t before the January-window era.

Ultimately, the January transfer window isn’t without its faults. But it may well be a necessary evil in today’s ever changing footballing landscape.

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To celebrate 25 years of the Premier League each week in Football Fancast we’re going to be looking back at a memorable game that took place on the corresponding date. This time out we revisit a mirror image of an out-and-out classic.

One of the joys of doing this series is highlighting some incredible games in the Premier League’s firmament that perhaps have been forgotten with the passing of time. The following is one such example, but here – uniquely – it is not time that has diminished its status but by it being overshadowed into near insignificance by a predecessor.

The game in question pits Liverpool against Newcastle at Anfield in the late 90s. After a pulsating ding-dong affair the home side triumph 4-3 courtesy of a Robbie Fowler double and a highly dramatic last minute winner, a death-blow that sends a former Liverpool legend to his knees in utter despair in the away dug-out.

If that all sounds extremely familiar that’s hardly surprising: after all, the goal-fest of 1996 – complete with the iconic image of Kevin Keegan slumped onto an advertising hoarding unable to comprehend what he was witnessing – is often voted the greatest game in the modern era. Sergio Aguero’s last-gasp title decider against QPR may beat it hands down for momentary drama but over the course of its 90 minutes the 1996 thriller was a constant assault on the senses that had everything and more. For twists and turns alone it remains unparalleled.

Only here’s the thing: a year later both teams did it all again, and arguably the sequel was even better.

Every element of the first classic was repeated, to the point where it stretched plausibility. Once again Newcastle arrived with the scent of a title in their nostrils with Liverpool – just like the previous April – in the hunt too but significantly further back. Once again kamikaze defending from both sides produced chances in abundance and seven goals that shook the TV camera on the gantry – and once again that included a highly charged late decider for the Reds. Now though it was Kenny Dalglish looking on gob-smacked having taken over the reins in the north-east that January from a spent and drained Keegan.

Even with 20 years distance it is still difficult to accept that this all happened; that lightning struck twice; that a fixture could unleash such mayhem and frolics and PlayStation insanity and then ten months later produce almost an exact carbon copy of it. Yet it did and perhaps it did so because around that period whenever Liverpool encountered Newcastle they brought out the best and worst in each other. For those involved it must have been traumatic. For neutrals it bordered on the magical.

So why, you may ask, is the second instalment of crazy superior to the original? Simply put because the scoring order is better even if that analysis is crueller on the Magpies.

In April 1996 free-scoring Newcastle traded blows with Roy Evans’ Spice Boys and alternated leads. The following March Liverpool got their noses in front and then extended their advantage to three goals to the good at the break. It was, under normal circumstances, game over with McManaman, Berger and Fowler chipping away at the visitors title credentials and looking to put their own hopes back in contention into the bargain.

Except Newcastle came back, and they did so because David James chose this night of all nights to be at his most calamitous. In the 71st minute he spilled a routine tester from Keith Gillespie to make the game a contest again and then late on, as the contest threatened to die away to normality he charged from his area into no man’s land. There he encountered Faustino Asprilla whose lunge for the ball knocked it sailing past the hapless keeper into an unguarded net.

If anything defined that magnificently flawed Newcastle side it was their steadfast belief in miracles but with minutes becoming seconds surely here it was a sensational proposition too far? Not so; not in this fixture; not when two of the most entertaining but brittle sides collided with not a handbrake to be seen.

In the final moments of a high-octane, rip-roaring encounter the ball popped free in the Liverpool box and Warren Barton poked it home. It took a replay to determine how and considering James’ nightmare second half it should surprise precisely no-one to learn that it squeezed between his legs.

And that was that, everyone agreed so, because another 4-3 would just be plain weird; the fates revealing that they’re not actually in charge of anything at all. Yet here it came with a flat-low cross perfectly pitched for Robbie Fowler to nod powerfully past Shaka Hislop. The unbridled carnage that ensued contained more than a whiff of disbelief about it.

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At the very least the amazing events that took place at Anfield on March 10th 1997 deserve to be viewed as a companion piece to what went before it. It was inferior in no way other than it occurred second. It should forever be scorched into our memories.

What happened next?

For a consecutive season Newcastle finished second to Manchester United, a position gauged as a disappointment at the time yet they would not reach this peak again.

Liverpool’s propensity to drop points against lesser fare cost them dearly and they ended the campaign level on points with Newcastle and Arsenal but behind on goal difference. According to their defender Mark Wright, “That was the season we should have won it and we all know that”.

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Far from the relegation-threatened campaign many envisaged amid Southampton’s infamous summer exodus, seeing five first team players join clubs that finished higher than them in the Premier League table last season, not to mention manager Mauricio Pochettino, some astute acquisitions and the oversight of Ronald Koeman has propelled the South Coast outfit to fifth this term.In fact, they’ve already spend ten matchdays in the top fourÂandÂwere only recently thrust out of it by three consecutive defeats to Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United.The Saints will be disappointed with their recent form against the Premier League’s big-boys but Champions League qualification is by no means out of the question. It could take a few smart signings in January to make the difference however, so just in case Koeman is short on a few ideas, here’s FIVE such acquisitions.

YOHAN CABAYE

A transfer target once implausible for Southampton but now a distinct possibility, if the St Mary’s outfit are prepared to splash the cash in January they stand a decent chance of landing former Newcastle star Yohan Cabaye.

The France international’s services are certainly there for the taking in the coming transfer window; he’s growing continually disillusioned at PSG, with manager Laurent Blanc preferring the likes of Javier Pastore, Blaise Matuidi, Thiago Motta, Marco Veratti and youngster Adrien Rabiot.

Resultantly, he’s been linked with some top Premier League clubs:

But that shouldn’t put off the in-form Saints; that £19million valuation is well within their financial grasp after generating a £35million profit during the summer.

There’s no doubting Cabaye’s Premier League credentials either, having amassed 18 goals and 15 assists in 93 appearances during two-and-a-half seasons on Tyneside. The 28 year-old is better famed for his quality at set pieces, as shown in the video below:

//www.youtube.com/embed/ySxnAqozCGE

But he’s industrious and creative in open play too, with a varied passing range and good anticipation. Here’s Cabaye’s vitals from the last few seasons:

That blend of craft and vision – not to mention long-range shooting – could make him the ideal man to sit just in front of Victor Wanyama and Morgan Schneiderlin in central midfield.

But perhaps most importantly of all, Cabaye represents the calibre of signing that would symbolise Southampton’s arrival at the more coveted end of the transfer market. Landing the £19million-rated Frenchman could open up new avenues for the Saints in subsequent transfer windows.

MARKO VEJINOVIC

Another central midfield option comes in the form of Vitesse hotshot Mark Vejinovic.

Eredivisie stars have a knack of struggling in the Premier League – see Alfonzo Alves and Mateja Kezman for historic examples – but Ronald Koeman has already successfully transitioned two to the English top flight in summer signings Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic.

And since Koeman left Holland for the south coast, it’s former Netherlands U21 Vejinovic that’s emerged as one of the Eredivisie’s flagship entities. As you can see, Whoscored.com rate him as the top performer in the entire division:

This assist against Dordrecht particularly stood out:

//www.youtube.com/embed/8IIq8HYPcZk

Eight goals and four assists from central midfield is talismanic contribution, but that hardly tells the whole story of the 24 year-old’s impressive form. Here’s his vitals compared to the Eredivise’s other leading centre-mids:

Measuring in at 6 foot 1, dynamic in style and boasting a very complete all-round game, Vejinovic possess the natural requisites to make the step up to the Premier League.

How much Vitesse value their star midfielder in fiscal terms however remains to be seen, whilst their feeder club relationship with Premier League leaders Chelsea could throw up further issues.

DANNY INGS

Few would dispute the influence of top scorer Graziano Pelle this season but it’s been a far less productive campaign for occasional strike-partner Shane Long, with just two goals in 14 Premier League outings.

Another front-man certainly wouldn’t go amiss at St. Mary’s in January and although Burnley forward Danny Ings may not quite be the finished article, he represents a unique opportunity for the Saints to invest in one of England’s more promising home-grown talents at little cost.

Of course, the 22 year-old rose to prominence last season, with his 21 goals firing the Turf Moor outfit to the top flight whilst also earning him the Championship’s Player of the Year award. Here’s a clip of the England U21 in action with strike partner Sam Vokes:

//www.youtube.com/embed/uBlv4siEiL8

He’s still adapting to Premier League level but has shown great promise in recording four goals and one assists in his last seven league outings.

More than simply a goalscorer however, Ings is an intelligent and versatile forward, regularly dropping into the no.10 role to link play and create opportunities for others.

Most appealingly from Southampton’s perspective, the 5 foot 11 striker is yet to extend his current contract at Burnley past the end of the current campaign – suggesting he doesn’t rate their Premier League survival chances too highly.

Manager Sean Dyche has already admitted a January departure is a distinct possibility and Southampton – who once released Ings as a school boy – have been mooted as potential suitors:

But a number of top flight clubs, including Newcastle and Liverpool, have been linked too.

MATIJA NASTASIC

Matija Nastasic was once the young, promising centre-back partner to Vincent Kompany but he’s now Manchester City’s forgotten man.

Injuries have been a factor but it’s incredibly telling that the 21 year-old’s last start for the Premier League champions was during the summer’s 3-0 Community Shield defeat Arsenal. A few days later, Manuel Pellegrini splashed out £30million on Eliaquim Mangala.

Regardless however, the 16-cap Serbian international boasts enormous potential, with his impressive reading of the game and quality on the ball particularly standing out for a defender so young. Here’s a clip of Nastasic in action:

//www.youtube.com/embed/LxnfKoOWmWE

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And a quick look at his stats over the last few years:

Toby Alderweireld and Jose Fonte have developed a fantastic partnership since the Belgium international’s arrival in the summer, but Southampton’s subsequent depth at centre-back is rather thin. Nastasic would be an astute solution.

A loan move for the remainder of the campaign is certainly conceivable, but recent reports claim the Etihad outfit would be prepared to offload the 6 foot 2 centre-half for just £5million in January:

YEVHEN KONOPLYANKA

Another swoop that would demonstrate Southampton’s advancement in the transfer market, a number of top Premier League clubs are reportedly lining up moves for Dnipro’s Yevhen Konoplyanka in January:

The Ukrainian international, who boasts 32 goals and plenty of assists in 149 league outings for Dnipro, first burst onto the scene with this absolute stunner against England at Wembley back in 2012:

//www.youtube.com/embed/8-WRcQr5TAY

He’s since gone on to win two Ukrainian Premier League Footballer of the Year awards, leading many to rate the 25 year-old as one of the most Europe’s talented outside of its five leading top flights.

Saido Mane and Dusan Tadic have impressed this year, whilst forgotten man Jay Rodriguez is also expected to return to first team action after Christmas.

But Konoplyanka, in addition to being hugely talented, is an out-and-out touchline hugger, offering the Saints squad something a little different. Here’s another look at the 5 foot 9 wideman in action:

//www.youtube.com/embed/0ap7lX6UYO0

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has played down speculation of Danny Rose’s loan move to Sunderland becoming a permanent deal.

The 22-year-old has spent the current Premier League campaign at the Stadium of Light, turning a number of impressive performances.

With his first-team opportunities likely to be limited with Spurs, there has been speculation that his temporary move may become permanent at the end of the season.

However, Villas-Boas believes that the youngster has a big future at White Hart Lane and has no intention of selling him at the end of the season:

“We have big expectations for him in the future. Our idea is that he comes back to Tottenham next year.” He is quoted by the Daily Mail.

“We appreciate what he’s been doing over here and it’s been a great experience.

“He’s been extremely well managed. We can’t give away a player of his quality.”

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Sunderland are thought to be keen on retaining the player, but may have to search for a replacement ahead of next season.

Spurs have the option to re-call Rose at any stage of the deal, which will serve as a real worry for manager Martin O’Neill, whose side remain just five points clear of the relegation zone.

Wolves fans in the Transfer Tavern can’t wait for the new season to start as they return to the Premier League after a six-year absence.

Although some have forgotten they actually need to do some great business this summer to hold their own in arguably the world’s most competitive league.

Since being bought by Chinese owners in 2016 the club has spent £67m on transfers, and if they continue that spending this pre-season they have a greater chance than Cardiff or Fulham of staying up.

They already signed Benik Afobe from Bournemouth, Willy Boly of Porto, Benfica’s Raul Jimenez and World Cup-standout goalkeeper Rui Patricio, so who else would help the fight for survival?

Having said that, here’s a closer look at who would be ideal fits to come in and light Molineux up once more.

Jack Wilshere

It’s well documented Jack Wilshere is leaving Arsenal this summer, but who he signs for is yet to be decided.

Juventus have reportedly curbed their interest and a move to West Ham is increasingly unlikely, leaving Southampton, Sampdoria, AC Milan and Wolves in the mix for the English playmaker.

They have all reportedly tabled offers for the 26-year-old who is a free agent as of July 1, and if Javi Grecia can pull this one off, it would be massive for their Premier League pedigree.

Ahmed Musa

Ahmed Musa has looked direct and effective for Nigeria in the World Cup and it could be exactly what Wolves need on the counter attack.

The Midlands’ club, Marseille and Galatasaray are all said to be interested in the Leicester wideman who spent last season on loan at CSKA Moscow.

His agent told radio station Radyospor he has already talked with Galatasaray And the pull of Champions League football may see him head to Turkey, but what’s the harm in testing the waters?

Alfie Mawson

Having played every game for relegated Swansea last season, Alfie Mawson could provide that top-flight experience Wolves so desperately need.

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They have been linked with Lazio’s Wallace but there are fears he won’t adapt to the physicality of the country quick enough, so Mawson seems the best fit.

Swansea have already rejected a bid from West Ham for 24-year-old, according to the BBC, so Wolves need to up their interest before he signs a deal elsewhere.

Newcastle United loan signing Kenedy scored two superb goals at St James’ Park on Saturday, inspiring the Magpies to a vital 3-0 win over fellow relegation battlers Southampton in the English Premier League.

The win moves Rafa Benitez’s side up to 13th in the table and eases worries about dropping down to the Championship, now five points clear of the relegation zone.

There’s work left to do to ensure safety, but the win against Saints was absolutely crucial.

Kenedy was the hero of the afternoon, finishing expertly twice in the opening 30 minutes to give his side a comfortable afternoon in front of a buoyant home support.

Fans are now calling on the club to make his loan move from Chelsea permanent, believing he adds something completely different to this Newcastle side.

Will we be seeing the Brazilian in black and white next season?

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